Descending parachute device



y 27, 1953 v D. OLEKSIJ 2,836,383

DESCENDING PARACHUTE DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 3, 1956 MEI-II VENTOR; DIMITRI OLEKSIJ 2.27.1. BY I;

y 27, 1958 D. OLEKS IJ 2,836,383

DESCENDING PARACHUTE DEVICE Filed Dec. 3, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H INVENTOR. 1U mmwm oLEKsw M y 1958 Y D. OLEKSIJ 2,836,383

DESCENDING PARACHUTE DEVICE Filed Dec. 3, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTOR. D! MITRIJ OLEKSIJ United States Patent DESCENDING PARACHUTE DEVICE Dimitrij Oleksij, East Orange, N. 3.

Application December 3, 1956, Serial No. 625,853

7 Claims. (Cl. 244-438) This invention relates to a device for slowing ones descent toward the ground after jumping from an airplane, a high building, or the like.

Parachutes, commonly used for slowing ones descent, are usable only from aircraft, and require that the jump be made from a substantial height in order to allow time for the parachute to open, and gradually descend vertically, with only a small amount of control, at most, being possible so far as movement in a lateral direction is concerned. These are undesirable features of a conventional parachute, in view of the fact that when a parachute is used in military operations, ones inability to control the direction in which the parachute moves may result in his falling into enemy hands on landing. Further, the substantial distance from which one must jump gives the enemy ample time to observe the descent and as a result, many of the jumpers are often killed by enemy fire while still in the air.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a device for slowing ones descent that will have none of the disadvantages noted above, and hence will be far better suited for military operations than the conventional parachutes heretofore employed.

Another object is to provide a descent-slowing device that will be swiftly adjustable between operative and inoperative positions.

Another object is to cause the device, when it is adjusted to a fully inoperative position, to be collapsed into a compact article capable of being carried readily on ones back, without difiiculty.

Another object is to provide a light, inexpensive device of the character described that will be at the same time fully efiicient for its intended purposes.

Another object is to form the device in such a manner that as distinguished from conventional parachutes, it will be diflicult to see when in the air, and will present a minimum target for enemy fire.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a device according to'the invention, as it appears when in use.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device on an enlarged scale, portions being broken away, the parts being shown in full lines in use position and in dotted lines in collapsed position.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device.

' Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a still further enlarged, detail sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig; 6 is a transverse sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 2. g

' Fig 7 is a greatly enlarged detail sectional view of a brake means, taken substantially on line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view, the scale being enlarged over that of Fig. 7, substantially on line 8--8 of Fig. 7, the brake means being shown in full and dotted lines in released and applied positions respectively.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged, detail sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a greatly enlarged sectional view through one of the blades, on line 10-10 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of a universal joint included in the device.

In its broadest aspects, the invention includa a stator on which the user is supported, and contrarotating rotors carried by the stator and including pivoted blades so pitched as to be caused to rotate as the device descends through the air, to slow the descent.

The stator includes a tube 16 formed open at its opposite ends and integral at its upper end with an outwardly directed top flange 12. The tube, intermediate its ends, has an intermediate flange or collar 14, and adjacent the lower end of the tube there is integrally formed thereon a bottom flange 16. All the flanges are of circular configuration, and lie in planes perpendicular to the length of the tube.

integrally formed on the lower end of the tube are diametrically opposite bearing extensions 13, and suspended from the bearing extensions is a universal connection. The universal connection includes an upper member shown to particular advantage in Fig. 11, having opposed crossbars 2& provided with aligned bearing openings receiving pivot pins 21, whereby the crossbars are connected to the depending extensions 18. integral with the crossbars are depending bearing plates 22, embracing a lower member having side walls 24 connected at their ends by crossbars 26.

The side walls 24 have ali ned bearing openings receiving connecting pins 27, said pins 27 being extended normally to the axis defined by the pins 21 to provide the desired universal joint or connection.

The lower member is provided with a bottom wall, having a center opening 28 in which is vertically slidable an elongated support bar 39, to the lower end of which is connected a seat bar 32 on which the user supports himself in the manner shown in Fig. l. Rigidly secured to the upper end of the support bar 36 is a ball element 34 which limits the slidable movement of the support bar downwardly within the universal connection.

The upper rotor 36 is in the form of a shallow inverted cup element having a center opening aligned with the bore of the tube, the depending side wall of the cup element being integrally formed at its lower edge with an inwardly directed flange 38, to which is connected the lower race of a ball bearing 40, the upper race of which is connected to the top flange 12 of the stator.

Fixedly secured .to the top surface of the cup-shaped rotor disc are pairs of upstanding cars 42, angularly spaced about the marginal portion of the disc apart. A top set of pitched blades 4-4 is carried by the ears or brackets 42, with the blades of thettop set having at their inner ends extensions 46 pivotally connected intermediate their ends to their respective brackets, and projecting at their free ends inwardly into the space above the center opening of the disc 36.

The blades 44 are so pitched "that when swung outwardly to their full line positions of Fig. 2, they will be caused to rotate, as the device moves towards the ground, with the pitch of the blades being such as to slow the downward movement of the device when the blades rotate with the disc 36 in the manner described.

A lower rotor includes a disc 48, connected at its top surface to its lower race of a ball bearing 5%, the upper race of which is connected to the underside of the flange 14. Depending from and fixedly secured to the disc 48 to the arms 53.

V a, 3 1 are angularly spaced pairs of ears or which are pivotally' connected blades 54-"pitched-oppositely to the blades 44; The purposeiof the contra- "rotating bladesis to counteract any tendency toward torque that. might otherwise tendto cause the stator to brackets 52, to f will again ,retract'as, they 'rnove downwardly through 7 opening 28;

rotate. Thetorqueof the upper set of blades neutralizes,

thetorques of the lower set and vice versa,to prevent said rotation of the stator.1 The inner ends'of the blades 54 terminate adjacent the wall of the tube It) as shown in Fig. 2, and in this connection, meansare provided for swinging the blades 54 to a collapsed position shown in V dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The. means for swinging blades 54 to their collapsed positions includes diametrically opposed, upwardly projecting pivot brackets 56 to which are pivotally connected aligned arms 58. Arms 58 (see Fig.4) swingin a common plane perpendicular to the plane of bottom flange 16, between the full and dottedline positions shown-in 'Fig52'. V

Above the arms a ring 60. of half-round crosssection, is rigid, at diametrically opposite locations thereon, with V mally swing ;'the blades upwardly from their collapsed depending connecting brackets 62.. These are arranged j in pairs (Fig. and the brackets of each pair embrace the intermediate portion of the associated arm 58.1 Connecting pins 59 'extend through openings of the brackets and through elongated slots formed in the arms, providing sliding pivotal connections of the brackets 62 The inner ends of arms 58., project into diametrically opposite longitudinal slots 64 of tube-ilL-which limit the swinging movement of the arms between theinop posite extreme positions.

Normally, the arms gravitate to theirglower, inoperativ'e, full line positions shown in Fig. 2. When raised,

'however, in a manner to be discussed in detail fhereinafter, they elevate the ring 60.. The ring then engages the inner ends of the blades 54, and biases the blades from the full to the dotted line position of the blades 1 shown in Fig.2. Thiscausesthe blades to be comparatively closely spaced from the stator, the'same being true of the upper set of blades 44, so that the apparatus can i be conveniently packed while awaiting use.

and carriedion the users back 1 ;Considering the manner in which the devic e is fused,

i reference should be; had' to the full'and dottedline positions of support bar 30. To collapse the devic'erone need 7 merelyto shift the support bar upwardly within tube 10. As jagresult, ball element 34engages the inner ends of arms 53 and. cams said inner ends upwardly within the tube; The ball element'then passes theinner ends 'of the arms 5822s it continues its movement upwardly within tube ill, and thereafter thearms=58 tend to' drop back to their normal. position, However, they are prevented from moving fully back to their normal position in view of the fact'th'at barISO will be now disposed'within tube 10. Arms 58, thus, engage diametrically opposite portionsof bar 30 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, thus;

holding the blades 54 in their collapsed positions. As the barcontinues its movement upwardly within tube the barielement ultimately engages blades and earns ithe same'upwardly to' the dotted line'position of Fig. 2. ;.The ball elementremainsin this position, thus holding the'blades 44, also in collapsed position. a

Any suitable means can be provided 'for re hold the bar against return movement to'its lower,

tuning the."

As bar 30 is withdrawn, the blades-44 and 54 are once} again permitted to swing to' their use positions, and it; 'will be understood that suitable spring means can be provided-as shown, tending to normally dispose the blades 44 and 54in said use positions thereof. For'example, torsion springs 61 can be looped about the pivotal connection of the blades to'their associated. support brackets. Que end of said torsion springs can; be engaged with the brackets and. the other ends have engagement with the bladesythe; springs being tensionedto norpositions. a

It is to'be further noted that 'when th e ball element moves downwardly within tube 10, the. ring maybe manually graspedand lifted a short distance to swing the arms58 upwardly suificiently to permit the 'ball element34 to move downwardly past the arms.

Vfhen the devic efis inuse, the jumper is seatedon bar 32 in the position shown in Fig. ,1, and a safety belt is provided for him" including a strap67 "connected at its upper end to the lower memberoi the universal joint'and at its lower end toa safety belt 9engageabie about the waist of the jumper. t V: A p A full control over the pathof descent is afforded. by

the apparatus through the provision of a control. lftat'idle 66 fiangedat'its upper end and fixedly securedat the;

upper 'endthereof to the underside of bottom flange 16.

Control bar :66, at its lower end,"hasga grip 'or handle '68 which is grasped by the user' and which is spac'edoutg v wardly from bar 30 due to the fact that the controlbar is of angular formation as 'shown in Fig; 1.

To control the path of descent, the userfma'yfswing' the bar 66 in any direction; This tilts the. stator'out ofits 7 normally vertical position,-so that the path of downward movement is-correspondingly tiltedto take a course hay-'- ing a lateral component.

pensate therefor.

V The device also includes brake means for the respective sets of blades. The purpose of the brake means of the blades is to permit the;

jumper to'turn either to the right or to the left about the axis of the stator. The arrangement is such that either" theupper or the lower set of blades can be slowed in respect to the other set, so that full neutralization of the torque of the opposite rotating sets of blades no longer exists, thereby causing controlled rotation of the stator and hence of the jumper; a I

The brake means has been shown to particular advantage in Figs. 2, 7, 8 and 9. It includes upper and lower braking arms 70, 72 respectively (Figures 2. and 7) provided upon-the side wall of tube 10; andswinging in planes normal to the and lower rotor discs 36, 48. Arms 76, 72 at their outer ends have arcuate brake shoes provided with friction- V producing,.asbestos fa'cings 74 curved correspondingly to and engaging against the; adjacent edges of therotor disc s when the brake arms are swung from their normal,

released positions shown infull lines in Fig. 8 to their dotted line, applied positions shown in the. samefigure of the drawing. a a

. a The brake arms'are normally biased to their released '1 the brake arms.

'use'position'. A positive pulling force exerted by auserf tendin'g'to withdraw the bar from th'elubehas the-efiect: of overcoming the spring force of the detents, so thatthey.

positions by springs 76 coiled aboutgthe pivot pins of One end ofa brake-applying, fiexiblefsteel cable. The brakes are separately controlled,.with the cables of, the upper and lower brakes being designated at 178, 80, respectively,

'As'will be noted from Fig. 8, the cables "are connected to the intermediate. portions'of'the arms,

and areihoused in fie'xiblesheaths, that are connectedrto a the tube ltliby suitable, clips and extend downwardly I through an opening 81"providedtin bottom flange' 16 in (Figs. .8 and 9).

Qr, if winds are blowing the device laterally, tilting'of the stator can be used to coma brake, including separate planes of rotation of the upper;

7 7 leg of each springislidably engages tube 10, while the otherleg bears against. a projecting' aaaaass registration with the upper end of the control bar 66. The control bar is hollow (Fig. 2) with the cables extending downwardly therein to a location adjacent grip 68.

Referring to Fig. 9, rigid with the control bar 66 are spaced pivot brackets embracing side-by-side, independently swingable, operating levers 32, 84 fixedly connected to the cables 78, 80 respectively. The connection of the cables to the levers may be adjusted to place the cables under a selected normal tension.

The levers swing upwardly and downwardly in a longitudinal slot 85 provided in the wall of the bar 66, and exteriorly of the bar merge into outwardly diverging handles 33, 9% adapted to be grasped by the user to exert pull on a selected cable for the purpose of applying the brake arm connected thereto.

It may be observed that although the tube 10 will be tilted in a selected direction to an inclined position, the jumper tends to be supported upon the bar 32 with bar 32 in a horizontal position. This is by reason of the fact that the universal connection previously described maintains support bar 30 in a substantially vertical position at all times.

Referring to Fig. 10, blades 54 are of hollow, thinwalled construction. In manufacture of the device, the blades would be filled with compressed air, after which the opening through which the air is injected into the blades is sealed. The compressed air adds stifiness or rigidity to the blades without adding weight to any appreciable degree, so that thinner and softer material may be used for the blades than would ordinarily be possible.

The construction has the further advantage that the hollow blades are buoyant in water, so that should the jumper drop into a body of water, the device will have the adaptability to support him therein.

With further reference to the brakes, it may be noted that when a brake is applied, the stator will be caused to turn in the direction of rotation of that set of blades to which the braking action is applied. In order to land, both brakes are applied thereby stopping the blades from rotating and thus protect the pilot from injury.

The device, it should be noted, may be used from aircraft both for military and non-military purposes, and can be accurately controlled during descent. Further, it can be used in descents from bridges, high buildings, etc., since it operates immediately as descent begins, hence being usable at minimum heights, even as low as twenty or thirty feet, as distinguished from conventional parachutes, which can be used only at heights sufiicient to permit the same to open.

Still further, the device has the desirable characteristic that it can be made of any light metal or other suitable material, and is well adapted for standardization and mass production.

Further, a desirable feature of the device, particularly as regards its use in military operations, is found in its low visibility when in use, and its further characteristic of presenting only a small target area. When the user has landed, the device can be collapsed swiftly and packed on his back, ready for reuse an unlimited number of times.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A descent-slowing device comprising a stator, a support for a user carried thereby, and a pair of rotors on the stator each including a set of blades, the blades of one set being pitched oppositely to the blades of the other set, for contrarotation of the rotors to neutralize the effect of torque developed by the rotors and exerted on the stator tending to rotate the stator, said device further including means on the support controllable by a user to reduce the speed of one rotor relative to the speed of the other rotor, thus to develop to a selected, adjusted extent torque on the stator tending to rotate the same in a correspondingly selected direction, comprising brake shoes pivoted upon the stator adjacent the respective rotors, and cables extending from the respective brake shoes and operable selectively by a user for applying the shoes to their associated rotors independentlyof each other.

2. A descent-slowing device comprising a stator, a support for a user carried thereby, and a pair of rotors on the stator each including a set of blades, the blades of one set being pitched oppositely to the blades of the other set, for contrarotation of the rotors to neutralize the efiect of torque developed by the rotors and exerted on the stator tending to rotate the stator, said stator including a tube, the rotors including discs spaced longitudinally of the tube and supported by the stator for rotation about the tube, the blades of the respective rotors.

being pivotally attached to the discs for swinging movement between extended, use positions and collapsed positions adjacent the tube, one set of blades being formed set, for contrarotation of the rotors to neutralize the effect of torque developed by the rotors and exerted on the stator tending to rotate the stator, said stator including a tube, the rotors including discs spaced longitudinally of the tube and supported by the stator for rotation about the tube, the blades of the respective rotors being pivotally attached to the discs for swinging movement be.- tween extended, use positions and collapsed positions adjacent the tube, one set of blades being formed with extensions at their inner ends extending radially inwardly of the tube, said support including a bar telescoping within the tube and disposed for cammingly engaging the extensions on telescoping of the bar into the tube, in a direction to swing the blades of said one set to collapsed positions, the other set of blades being formed with extensions at their inner ends, said device including means for swinging the blades of said other set to collapsed positions, including a cam ring circumposed about and shiftable longitudinally of the tube, arms pivoted on the stator in position to shift the cam ring longitudinally of the tube in one direction responsive to the swinging of the arms in a corresponding direction, said arms projecting radially inwardly of the tube and being engageable by the support bar by telescoping of the bar into the tube to swing the arms in said one direction thereof, the

cam ring being disposed for engaging the extensions of the blades of said other set to bias the blades of said other set to collapsed position.

4. A descent-slowing device comprising a stator, a support for a user carried thereby, and a pair of rotors on the stator each including a set of blades, the blades of one set being pitched oppositely to the blades of the other set, for contrarotation of the rotors to neutralize the effect of torque developed by the rotors and exerted on the stator tending to rotate the stator, said device further including a control handle rigid with the stator and projecting outwardly from the stator to be grasped by the user, whereby to effect selective tilting of the stator, for. correspondingly tilting the planes of rotation of the rotors to control movement of the device in a lateral direction, said de'vicefinther the speed oi rotation of one rotor relative to the speed ofthe other rotor,'toadjustably develop torque on the brakes. for swinging the same into engagement with the rotors, said cables extending within the control handle, and handle levers pivotally attached to the control handle and connected to the respective cables for selective application of the brakes to the rotors. 7 V 7 5. A, descent-slowing device comprising a stator, a support-for a user carried thereby, and a pair of rotors on t the stator each including a set of blades, the blades of one set being pitched'oppositely to the blades of the other set,-for'contrarotation of the rotors to neutralize the effect of torque developed by the rotors and exerted on the stator tending to rotate the stator, said stator including an elongated tube integrally formed, at locations spaced longitudinally thereof, with outwardly directed, planiforin j flanges, said rotors: being rotatably supported 'upon the respective flanges, theblades of the rotors being pivoted for swinging movement, between extendedeandcollapsed positions,'said support including abartelesc'opingwithin the tube and formed interiorly of thetu'be with a ball element, the blades of one set having extensionspro-- including means for slowing jecting' radially inwardly of the tube in position to be cammingly engaged by the ball elementiontelescoping: of the bar into the tube, for swinging the blades{ of said one set to collapsedpositions. V p a 6. A descent-slowing device comprising a's't'ator, a'support for a user carried thereby, and a pair of rotors on:

the stator'each including a'set of blades, the blades of one set being pitched 'oppositely to the blades oi the other set, for contrarotation of the rotors to neutralize the effect of torque developed by the rotors and exerted on the stator tending to rotate the stator, said stator including an elongated tube integrally formed, at locations spaced longitudinally thereof, with outwardly directed, planiform flanges, said rotors being rotatably supported upon therespective flanges, the blades of the roto'rs being pivoted for swinging movement between extended 3 V pivotally connected to the stator for swinging movement about an axis extending transversely of the staton-and a lower member pivotally connected to the upper member for swinging movement about an normal 'to the axis of swinging movement of the upper member, said support'sliding in the lower memberof the universal con- 1 collapsed and extended positions respectively.

nection longitudinally of and within the stator between 7. A descent-slowing device comprising a stator, a support for a user carried thereby, and a pair or rotors on the stator each including a set of blades, the blades of one set being pitched oppositely to the blades of the other set, for contrarotation of the rotorseto neutralize the effect of torque developed by the rotors and exerted on the stator tending to rotate the stator, said stator including an elongated tube integrally formed, atlocations spaced longitudinally thereof, with outwardly directed, planiiorm flanges, said rotors being rotatably supported upon the respective flanges, the blades of the rotors being pivoted for swinging movement between extended and collapsed positions, said support including a bar telescoping within the tube and formed interiorly of the tube with a ball element, the blades of one set having extensions projecting radially inwardly of the tube in position to be cammingly engaged by the ball element on telescoping of the bar into the tube, for swinging the blades of said oneset to collapsed'positions, said stator further including a flange integrallyeformed on the tube in spaced relation to the first-named flanges of the tube, the descent-slowing device including means for swinging: the blades of the other'set to collapsed positions, including arms pivoted on the last-namedflang a cam ring engageable by the arms on swinging ofv said arms in one direction, said ring'being disposed for cammingly' engaging the blades of said other set on shifting of the ring by the arm, the ball element being disposed for a'bout an axis extending transversely of the stator, and

and collapsed positions; said support including a bar. V

' telescoping within the tube and formed interiorly o'f the tube with a ball element, the blades of one set having extensions projectingradially' inwardly of, the tube in position to be camrningly engaged by the ball element on telescoping or" the bar into the tube, for swinging the blades of said one set' to collapsedpositions; said stator further including a flange integrally formedjon the tube in spaced relation to the first-named flanges of tions, including arms pivoted on the last-named flange, a

l the tube, the descent-slowing device including means for swingingthe blades ofthe other set. to coll'apsed 'posiarms in one direction, said ring being disposedifor cammingly engaging the'blades of said other set on "shifting Of the ring by the arm, the ball element being disposed forengaging said arms on telescoping ofthe'support bar into the tube, a universal connection carriediby the stator, said universal connection including an upper member a lower member pivotally connected tothe upper mem-j her for swinging movement about an axis normal'to the 1 a 7 axis of swinging movement of the upper member, said.

support sliding in the lower member'of the universal connection longitudinally of and within the stator between collapsed and'extended positions respectively, said device further including acontrol handle rigid with the last-named flange of the stator, said control handle being of angular formation and projecting laterally outwardly from the last-named flange for adjustably tilting the V stator in "a selected direction, to correspondingly control 'lateral'movement of the stator during descent.

References'Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

